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ATTENTION!!!
Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”
I got an email from a friend that brought to my attention the earthquake that took place in Asia on Monday. My prayers and the prayers of those here at PutHimFirst.com go out to those suffering in this great tragedy. The email said:
“I don’t know if any of you will get this email right now or later on...but this morning another earthquake hit the same fault line that the 9-point one did that caused the Asian tsunami that killed 175,000 in December. This one was an 8.2 but is projected to cause yet another devastation to the Asian island areas. Please keep them in prayer as it is unfolding and the evacuations are being sent...
On my mind are the people of course, but it just sits strange with me that the first tsunami hit a day after Christmas (Dec. 26th) and now the second is a day after Easter (March 28). My spirit is stirred for a reason I don’t know. It just sits with me different than any other weather devastation has in the past. Just wanted to share with ya’ll what was on my mind at the specific time...”
Is it a coincidence that these earthquakes happened right after the most recognized and celebrated days in our Christian lives? Is God trying to get our attention? I don’t know. I’m not one that claims to be a prophet or a Biblical scholar or anything like that, but just looking at the times we live in makes me wonder if Christ, the Messiah, is coming soon.
Never before have there been so many catastrophes in such a short time. Fear and terrorism is running wild as we see school shootings and car bombs. There have been numerous wars and rumors of wars. There are false prophets rising up all over as people try to discredit Jesus and the Word of God. Lawlessness abounds in our society and around the world.
I work at a newspaper so I read the news everyday and I think to myself, “WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD OF OURS???” I find tears forming in my eyes at some of the crazy stuff I read. A mother cuts off the arms of her child. An earthquake kills thousands. Terrorists fly planes into buildings. And I can go on and on with other negative stories that fill up the pages of the daily newspaper. We can’t be blind and refuse to notice everything that is happening all around us. How long will we go on living the way we are living and doing the things that we are doing?
Matthew 24:4-14 says, “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. ‘Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Maybe God is trying to get our attention. Are we too busy to hear Him?
Have you seen those billboards signed by God? I’ve always loved those billboards. When I’m driving and I see one of those it always makes me think of Him. A few examples are:
We need to talk.
- God
I love you and you and you and you…
- God
Need directions?
- God
You think it’s hot here?
- God
I believe that in these chaotic times God is trying to get our attention even more. The question is: Will you stop and listen to Him? Will you choose to recognize His voice amongst all of the other noises around us? Will you grab ahold of His word and run with it?
“But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 4:8-9)
Let’s be that seed that falls on good ground and continue to “Put Him First” in all we do. I pray that this column got your ATTENTION and that you will put your ATTENTION on the ONE who deserves all of the ATTENTION!!!
w/muchluv,
geno
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